Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued Airworthiness Directive AD/BEECH 36/50 on 23 January 2002, to address the unsafe condition of flap flex shaft separations in Beechcraft 36 (Bonanza) Series Aeroplanes, which led to flap asymmetric situations. The unsafe condition was attributed to improper heat treatment of the flex shafts manufactured between January 2000 and April 2001. The policy objective of the AD is to ensure the continued airworthiness of affected aircraft by requiring inspections and, if necessary, replacement of the affected components. The AD applies to Beechcraft Model 36, A36, A36TC, and B36TC aircraft of all serial numbers and mandates specific actions to be taken within specified timeframes to rectify the unsafe condition.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive AD/BEECH 36/50 applies to all Beechcraft Model 36, A36, A36TC, and B36TC series aircraft, regardless of serial numbers, in relation to the flap flex shaft assembly. The directive mandates specific actions to address an identified unsafe condition related to the manufacture date of the flap flex shaft assemblies. This AD is issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate. The directive applies within the Commonwealth of Australia and is applicable to all aircraft of the specified series, irrespective of their registration status at the time of manufacture. However, there are no Group 1 aircraft currently on the Australian register, as noted in FAA AD 2001-23-10, but if such aircraft are imported into Australia, the requirements of this AD will be addressed during the Certificate of Airworthiness (C of A) issuance process. The AD specifies that if the aircraft records indicate that either the left-hand (LH) or right-hand (RH) flap flex shaft, or the flap actuator, has not been replaced since 1 March 2000, no further action is required beyond making an appropriate certification in the aircraft log book. Conversely, if any of these components have been replaced since that date, the identification label must be inspected to determine the manufacture date of the flap flex shaft assemblies in accordance with Raytheon Service Bulletin 27-3478, with replacement necessary only for flex shafts manufactured between January 2000 and April 2001. The compliance timeline stipulates that inspections must occur within 25 flight hours from the effective date of the AD, while replacements must be completed before further flight. The AD became effective on 30 January 2002, and its requirements are enforceable across the Commonwealth of Australia.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) pertains specifically to Beechcraft 36 (Bonanza) Series Aeroplanes, covering all serial numbers of the models A36, A36TC, and B36TC. The directive, identified as AD/BEECH 36/50, mandates specific actions to address a safety concern with the flap flex shaft assembly (section 1). The directive takes effect on 30 January 2002. The requirement section (section 2) outlines the actions necessary to ensure the safety of the aircraft. Firstly, it mandates reviewing the aircraft records to ascertain whether either the left-hand (LH) or right-hand (RH) flap flex shaft, or the flap actuator, has been replaced since 1 March 2000. If these components have not been replaced since that date, no further action is required, and an appropriate certification should be made in the aircraft logbook. If any of these components have been replaced since 1 March 2000, the identification label for the manufacture date of the flap flex shaft assemblies must be inspected in accordance with Raytheon Service Bulletin 27-3478. Flex shafts manufactured before January 2000 and after April 2001 do not require replacement. However, if any flex shafts were manufactured between January 2000 and April 2001, they must be replaced. The compliance section (section 3) specifies the timeframes for these actions. The review of aircraft records and certification in the logbook must be completed within 25 flight hours from the effective date of the AD. The inspection of the identification labels and replacement of any required flex shafts must also be completed within 25 flight hours from the effective date, and before further flight. The AD imposes obligations on aircraft owners and operators to ensure that they comply with the specified requirements within the stipulated timeframes. Failure to adhere to these requirements can result in serious safety risks, particularly given the documented instances of flap flex shaft separations leading to flap asymmetric situations, which have been attributed to improper heat treatment. These safety risks underline the necessity of the mandated actions. Any breaches of this Airworthiness Directive may result in civil or criminal consequences. The exact nature of these consequences would be determined by the specific circumstances of the breach and the applicable aviation regulations. In general, non-compliance with ADs can lead to penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, which may include fines and other sanctions. The potential penalties can be significant, reflecting the importance of ensuring compliance with safety directives to maintain the airworthiness of aircraft.